Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/103

 Journal of John Mair, ijgi 93 below and rode down to the mouth of the river, where certainly it appears to its greatest advantage; above the falls was a battery, and the aspect of the whole country hereabouts is beautifully romantick. the prospect of the Island of Orleans which is 7 Miles long and very well inhabited which here divides the river St. Laurance not a little heigthens the scene. next day I drove to the Indian Town of Loretta, the country is pritty well cultivated, about a hundred Indians have domesticated them- selves here, the Men hunt, the women cultivate the ground, and between them they seem to make out a comfortable way of life, in- deed except in dress they differ very little from the Canadians, they have a Church, and an old Jesuit occasionally officiates by whose docu- ments sic' they have form'd a very fine choir of female voices, the river I mention'd in passing to Montmorancy runs through the villiage and exhibits a romantick cataract of water on which they have a grist mill; next day very early I went in a boat about 7 Miles up the river, to a little river which there falls into the St. Laurance under the name of the Chaudiere ; about 2 Miles up this river is a very fine fall broader than that of Montmorancy but not above half its height, nor is it so perfect, as a rock that juts out about the middle divides the sheet of water, the spot about here is as savagely romantick as any I ever beheld, and altogether is as well worth seeing as the other, tho the road to get at it is rather inconvenient; I was told much about the 7 falls of St. Anns, but the difficulty attending the getting there tho' only 7 Leagues from Quebec, hinder'd my attempting it. next day I rode out on the plains of Abraham, from whence is the most extensive and romantick view one can possibly conceive. I con- tinued my course through a wood and joining the high road to Montreal again had the rich and beautiful! view which is exhibited from this terrace. in the Evening I walk'd all round the ramparts which afford a pritty walk, and got up to the Citidel from whence one comds. the whole surrounding country to a great extent. the people in the Govt, of Quebec dont seem to be very contented, the Seigniorial rights gall the Bourgoise and make them wish to par- ticipate of the same rights as are now establish'd in France, the Seigniors on the contrary are very jealous, and as much as they dare exert their power, the English setlers complain they are deceivd, as they came here in expectation of the English laws prevailing, the Law at present is a strange heterogeneous mixture and by no means perman- ent, very far are the inhabitants in general from following that Indus- try, Oconomy and Sobriety of the American colonies, it struck me the difference was to the full as great as I have in travelling in Europe observ'd it to be, between the free and tyrannick states; the Duties from the fur and grain trade dont half pay the expenses attending the large sallerys of the officers of Govt., and it must strike every disin- terested person that it wou'd be a saving to great Britain and a happi-